Ashurst has recruited a tax partner from Jones Day, in a boost for the firm's Frankfurt office.

Martin Buenning joins from Jones Day's local office, where he has been a partner since 2011 after moving over from German law firm GSK Stockmann & Kollegen.

His practice focuses on tax advice for investors in real estate and alternative investments, as well as on tax structures for open-ended and closed funds. He also advises on private equity and venture capital matters, and on domestic and cross-border M&A deals.

Ashurst Germany managing partner Tobias Krug said: "Martin is exceptionally experienced in advising on the tax aspects of national and cross-border real estate, private equity and corporate transactions. He is ideally suited to Ashurst and we are confident he will make a significant contribution to the team."

Ashurst has 14 partners and 30 other lawyers in the office, according to the firm's website.

The hire for Ashurst comes after the news this May that tax partner Heiko Penndorf is leaving to join Goodwin's new Frankfurt base. The US firm is building out the Frankfurt office it launched earlier this year and Penndorf's hire will reunite him with the four-partner Ashurst team hired by Goodwin in November 2015.

The team, which focuses on finance, real estate and M&A, joined the US firm to launch its first office in Germany.

Ashurst's partner ranks have further thinned recently following several departures. Singapore managing partner Shaun Lascelles is among the latest to leave, while Hong Kong partner duo Lina Lee and Jonathan Hsui are joining Allen & Overy.

Meanwhile, in London, banking heavyweight Nigel Ward is joining a trio of ex-Ashurst colleagues at Paul Hastings. Partners Michael Smith, Diala Minott and Cameron Saylor all quit for Paul Hastings' City base at the beginning of this month.